Chippendale Highboy (also known as a tall chest of drawers, high-chest, or double chest)
Storage - Tall chest of drawers / Highboy · Colonial Revival (Late 19th to Mid 20th Century) reflecting the American Chippendale style (1750-1790) · Unmarked manufacturer, likely produced by a prominent American traditional furniture maker such as Statton, Baker, or Henkel Harris during the mid-20th-century Colonial Revival movement.
Type
Storage - Tall chest of drawers / Highboy
Style Period
Colonial Revival (Late 19th to Mid 20th Century) reflecting the American Chippendale style (1750-1790)
Material
Solid mahogany primary wood with secondary woods likely including pine or poplar for internal drawer linings and case framing. Brass hardware.
Age Estimate
Mid-20th century, circa 1940-1960, built as a high-quality reproduction in the Colonial Revival style.
Dimensions
Estimated height of 72 to 84 inches, width of 38 to 44 inches, and depth of 18 to 22 inches. This is standard for a full-scale traditional American highboy.
Origin
American, crafted in the United States following traditional New England or Philadelphia cabinetmaking aesthetics.
Designer/Maker
Unmarked manufacturer, likely produced by a prominent American traditional furniture maker such as Statton, Baker, or Henkel Harris during the mid-20th-century Colonial Revival movement.
Value Estimate
Estimated retail market value between $800 and $2,000 depending on the specific maker, regional demand, and local antique market trends.
Description
This stately Chippendale-style highboy is a masterclass in classical American furniture design. Divided into two stacked sections, the upper case features a staggered arrangement of smaller and wider drawers topped by an elaborate broken-arch pediment centering a carved finial. The lower section includes a long slide drawer and three smaller drawers over deeply carved cabriole legs terminating in powerful ball-and-claw feet. The rich mahogany finish and finely carved shell motifs give this piece an undeniable air of timeless elegance and formal grace.
Key Features
Broken-arch scroll pediment with central finial, carved fan/shell motifs on the upper and lower central drawers, cabriole legs with ball-and-claw feet, and a classic multi-drawer tall vertical silhouette.
Color & Finish
Warm reddish-brown mahogany stain with a satin lacquer or semi-gloss varnish topcoat, exhibiting a rich, even tone and polished patina.
Construction Method
Combination of traditional handcrafted techniques and factory-era precision woodworking, featuring a two-part case construction standard for highboys.
Joinery & Craftsmanship
Traditional mortise and tenon frame construction with hand- or semi-machined dovetail joints visible on the drawer construction, ensuring high durability.
Wood Grain & Species
Straight-to-interlocked mahogany grain with smooth figuring, accented by carved fan or sunburst motifs on the top and bottom central drawers.
Surface Treatment
Smooth finished surface featuring hand-carved scrolling broken-arch pediment, central finial, carved shell or fan motifs, and cabriole legs with ball-and-claw feet.
Upholstery Details
N/A
Hardware & Fittings
Cast brass batwing backplate pulls and matching swing handles on the drawers, typical of the Chippendale period revival style.
Origin & Provenance
American, crafted in the United States following traditional New England or Philadelphia cabinetmaking aesthetics.
Condition Notes
Very Good condition. The structural integrity is robust, the drawers slide smoothly, and the surface finish shows only minor, age-appropriate surface wear consistent with careful household use.
Interesting Facts
Highboys were among the most expensive and prestigious pieces of furniture in 18th-century colonial American homes, often serving as a status symbol to display a family's wealth and refined taste.
Cultural Significance
Represents the height of 18th-century American cabinetmaking artistry and its subsequent romanticization during the mid-20th-century Colonial Revival, which sought to connect modern American homes with early heritage.
Similar Pieces
Queen Anne highboys (which typically feature pad feet instead of ball-and-claw and simpler flat or arched tops without elaborate pediments) and Federal/Hepplewhite tall chests (distinguished by straight legs and lighter, more geometric inlay rather than carved cabriole legs).
Care & Maintenance
Dust regularly with a soft, dry microfiber cloth. Avoid silicone-based polishes; instead, use a high-quality microcrystalline wax or lemon oil periodically to nourish the wood. Keep away from direct sunlight and heating vents to prevent wood splitting or fading.
Value Estimate
Estimated retail market value between $800 and $2,000 depending on the specific maker, regional demand, and local antique market trends.
Sustainability Notes
Crafted from durable hardwoods designed to last for generations, exemplifying sustainable anti-disposable furniture practices through extreme longevity and repairability.